Undetermined fuel-air explosion killed 4 in Washtenaw County, officials say

Officials are investigating a home explosion in the 8000 block of Winters Lane that killed four on Saturday, Dec. 30.

Officials are investigating a home explosion in the 8000 block of Winters Lane that killed four on Saturday, Dec. 30.Provided by the Northfield Township Police Department

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect the fourth victim died at the scene, not at the hospital as previously reported.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- A fuel-air complication has been identified as the possible cause of a house explosion that killed four, according to police.

A preliminary investigation has revealed a fuel-air explosion caused a Whitmore Lake-area house to blow up late last week, Northfield Township Police Department said in a release on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Foul play is not suspected, police said.

Police did not respond to messages for additional information.

Officials also released the names of everyone killed in the blast for the first time.

Hope Bragg, 51; Don Bragg, 53; Kenneth Bragg, 22 and Elizabeth Bragg, 19, were killed, police said. Richard Pruden, the owner of the house and Hope Bragg’s father, is currently in critical condition. Stephen Bragg, 16, is in stable condition, according to the release.

A vigil in remembrance of the Bragg family will take place at 3 pm. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Whitmore Lake High School, 7430 Whitmore Lake Road in Whitmore Lake.

A GoFundMe supporting Pruden has raised more than $2,000 as of 3 p.m., Jan. 2, while a GoFundMe supporting Stephen Bragg has raised nearly $5,000.

An injured cat was also recovered from the home.

Read more: People killed in Washtenaw County explosion identified as Arkansas family

Three people were initially found deceased in the home, while a fourth succumbed to their injuries at the scene, Marc Breckenridge, Huron Valley Ambulance spokesperson, previously told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

The Bragg family is from Arkansas and was visiting for the holiday, police said.

Hope Bragg worked at the University of Arkansas at Monticello as a 4H Instructor in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, while Don Bragg worked as a project leader for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service research station, according to the organizations’ directories.

Both attended Michigan Technological University, according to LinkedIn profiles by the same names.

Officials had Winters Lane and Coyle Road blocked off as of 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Read more: Debris scattered across acres following home explosion that killed 4

“The investigation is continuing by investigators and will take time,” police officials said in a release. “Please stay clear of the area and allow investigators time and space to conduct the investigation.”

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Ann Arbor” daily newsletter.

Jordyn Pair

Stories by Jordyn Pair

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.